The Osun State governorship election on Saturday recorded a mix of large voter turnout and pockets of violence, with reports of ballot box snatching, alleged teargassing of voters, disruption of voting and the arrest of political actors and suspected electoral mercenaries in different parts of the state.
The incidents occurred despite the heavy deployment of security personnel and traditional interventions in some communities, where monarchs had administered traditional oaths and warned political actors against disrupting the election or causing violence.
However, the election was largely peaceful in many polling units, with elderly men, women, youths and Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) joining thousands of other voters to exercise their franchise.
The voters included a 97-year-old, Pa Isaac Adeniran Adesanmi, a great-grandfather, who travelled to NUD Primary School, Collation Centre, Unit 1, Ward 4, Ilase-Ijesa, in Obokun Local Government Area of the state.
Brought to the polling unit by relatives, Adesanmi waited patiently after the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) initially failed to capture his face and fingerprints.
INEC officials later assured him that another attempt would be made.
The nonagenarian, whose name appeared as number 116 on the voters’ register, said he had been voting since the era of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“I am 97 years old and I started voting during the time of Awolowo. I always vote anytime election comes up. I have been voting in Kaduna before I came back home,” he said.
He urged young Nigerians not to lose interest in elections, stressing that voting remained an important means of determining the quality of leadership in the country.
Lawmaker, others arrested
One of the major security developments was the arrest of a serving member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area.
Inaolaji, who represents Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was reportedly arrested at his residence during an early-morning joint operation by security operatives.
The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest, saying it was part of intensified security operations aimed at preventing activities capable of undermining the election.
According to the police, about 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were recovered from the lawmaker’s residence.
A video obtained after the arrest showed Inaolaji identifying himself and allegedly stating that he facilitated the movement of the 146 suspects into Osun from neighbouring states to participate in the election.
The police said the allegations remained subject to investigation.
Ojelabi told journalists: “He was arrested in Ikire with about 146 suspected mercenaries in the early hours of Saturday.”
In another operation, operatives of the Anti-Robbery Section and Violent Crime Response Unit arrested 33 suspected electoral mercenaries at Babs Hotel, behind the State High Court in Ede.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects had been brought into Osun State from Ondo State for alleged unlawful electoral activities. Four voter cards were reportedly recovered from them.
The suspects allegedly told investigators that an unidentified politician recruited them and promised them financial rewards for participating in the election.
Police said investigations were continuing to establish the identities and roles of those behind the alleged operation.
ADC candidate’s polling unit attacked
At Ward 4, Unit 13, Oke-Odo, Ejigbo, trouble reportedly erupted shortly after the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr Najeem Salaam, cast his vote.
Suspected political thugs allegedly invaded the polling unit, forcing voters and electoral officials to flee and disrupting accreditation and voting.
The attackers were also alleged to have carted away ballot papers and other sensitive electoral materials.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the assailants were led by a man identified as “Big Hammer,” although his identity and political affiliation could not be independently verified.
The ADC alleged that the attack was targeted at Salaam and accused supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the incident.
The party described the development as an alleged assassination attempt on its candidate, although Salaam was not injured.
There was, however, no immediate independent confirmation of the assassination allegation or the alleged political affiliation of the attackers, while the Osun State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of press time.
Before the incident, Salaam had complained about the alleged non-recognition of ADC agents in several parts of the state.
The candidate, who arrived at his polling unit at about 10:39 a.m., said he had received reports that some of the party’s agents were not being recognised by electoral officials despite having their names uploaded ahead of the election.
According to him, the problem affected ADC agents in about 10 local government areas, prompting the party to report the matter to the relevant authorities.
Salaam urged electoral officials to ensure that all accredited agents were allowed to perform their duties and that voters were given the freedom to choose their preferred candidates.
He also dismissed allegations of vote-buying by the ADC.
“We converse with the people, we let them know our programmes, and that is exactly what we do. Vote buying is out of it. I have never in my life bought votes,” he said.
Tension in Modakeke
Tension was also reported in Modakeke, where voting was disrupted at Ward 10 and Ward 3 following allegations that a group of men dressed in police uniforms teargassed voters and made away with some ballot boxes.
The incident reportedly angered voters, some of whom protested openly and rained curses on the alleged perpetrators, describing the action as an attack on democracy.
Details surrounding the identity of the alleged attackers and the number of ballot boxes reportedly taken were unclear as of press time.
The development further heightened concerns among voters and observers over the security of electoral materials and the ability of security agencies to protect polling units.
Traditional rulers administer oaths on gladiators
Ahead of the election, traditional rulers in Ibokun and Imesi-Ile, both in Obokun Local Government Area, had administered traditional oaths on political actors and other stakeholders as part of efforts to prevent violence before, during and after the poll.
The traditional intervention included invoking sanctions against anyone who might attempt to disrupt the election or cause violence.
A resident and National Treasurer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Diran Odeyemi, who spoke during the exercise, said the traditional rulers had made it clear that anyone who disturbed the peace or caused a crisis would face the consequences of the oath.
Odeyemi said the state had witnessed disturbing incidents during the pre-election period but expressed optimism that the will of the people would prevail.
“Pre-election, we are all aware of the killings, especially those targeted at Accord members, and we thank God for the mindset of the governor who never retaliated
“Today is the D-Day. We have received skirmishes here and there, but we believe that the will of the people will prevail. We pray that the peace we enjoy in Osun will return fully after the election.”
He said voting in Ibokun was progressing peacefully, with electoral materials available at polling units and encouraging voter turnout.
“I know of Ibokun and I know of Imesi-Ile. They both vowed, through the traditional oath, to maintain peace. So, based on this, we are not expecting any crisis,” he added.
Large turnout despite fears
Across Ejigbo, Ilesa, Ede, Iragbiji, Ile-Ife, Ikire, Osogbo and other parts of the state, voters were seen arriving at polling units early, with many checking their names on displayed registers ahead of accreditation.
In Ejigbo, large numbers of voters were observed at several polling units, including Ward 4, Unit 1, Balogun, where the electorate conducted themselves peacefully.
At Ward 3, Unit 16, Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area, voters arrived as early as 7:15 a.m., waiting for electoral officials and materials.
Similarly, at Ward 10, Unit 1, Oloti area of Iragbiji, where former Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, was expected to vote, voters arrived early and checked their names on the register.
In Ilesa West, voters at Ward 1, Unit 8, Idiroko/Itakogun, were seen checking their details, while an INEC Assistant Presiding Officer, Festus Akinlolu, educated voters at Ward 8, Unit 3, on the voting procedure.
Large turnout was also reported at Ward 8, Unit 7, said to be the polling unit associated with former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
At Ede North, voters also arrived early, with INEC ad hoc personnel preparing for accreditation and voting.
At the governor’s polling unit, Ward 4, Unit 9, voters and electoral officials were also ready for the exercise.
However, accreditation was temporarily delayed at Ward 5, Unit 12, Falaju Street, Ile-Ife, after the polling venue was found locked.
The Presiding Officer, Said Oghnerume, said she arrived at about 8:00 a.m. but could not commence the exercise because the person holding the key to the facility had not arrived.
She said efforts were being made to open the venue and commence accreditation.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, after casting his vote in Ede, expressed confidence in victory and alleged that the APC was preparing fake results to replace genuine polling-unit results.
The governor also alleged that there were moves to relocate some local government collation centres to the state capital, a development he said could facilitate manipulation of results.
“I have voted and I ask Osun people to come out en masse to vote and defend their votes. Nobody can deny Osun people their rights to vote and be voted for,” Adeleke said.
“We have it on good authority that Osun APC has written fake results for some local governments. The APC is looking for ways to swap the fake results with the original results.
“Their plan is to move some local government collation centres to the state capital so that they can swap the results. We will resist such moves.
“All collation must be done at each local government. Under no circumstances should the local government collation be taken to the state capital.”
Adeleke said he was confident of winning “with wide margins,” adding, “I have God and the people.
“Despite the threats, you can see the people came out. Some people came from Lagos and Ibadan to prove and cast their votes for Accord candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke,” he said.
The APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, who voted in Ikire, commended the large turnout, saying it showed that voters were not intimidated.
He also commended the presence of INEC officials and security personnel and urged security agencies to remain proactive throughout the exercise.
Oyebamiji expressed confidence in victory and said he trusted the police to investigate and take appropriate action over the arrest of a politician reportedly found with electoral materials.
Also, the APC deputy governorship candidate, Kayode Adereti, who voted at Ward 11, Unit 3, Ilare, Ife Central, described the turnout as impressive and praised the security arrangements and performance of BVAS.
“The turnout is impressive and the security is perfect. The BVAS is working well, and everyone is happy here,” Adereti said.
He urged eligible voters to participate and appealed to political parties and their supporters to maintain peace and allow voters to make their choices freely.
The National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and his wife, Mrs Abibat Basiru, also voted at Ward 7, Unit 3, Osogbo Local Government Area, at about 8:45 a.m.
Basiru commended INEC for the deployment of election materials and personnel and praised security agencies for maintaining order at polling centres.
He expressed optimism that the election would be free, fair and credible, while predicting victory for his party.
The Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, who voted at about 10:48 a.m. at the NUD Primary School polling centre in Ilase-Ijesa, also urged residents to come out and vote.
“Please, come out, there is no cause for alarm,” he said.
Mixed reactions from polling units
At Ward 3, Unit 1, Ejigbo, former Federal Commissioner representing Osun State at the National Population Commission, Senator Mudashiru Husain, said the situation at the polling unit remained calm.
“Everything is calm. Since the beginning of this exercise, things have been peaceful everywhere,” he said.
Another voter at the location, however, raised concerns over the failure of BVAS to capture or accredit some voters, particularly those using old voter cards.
He also said there were reports of voters who had not changed their voting locations being unable to find their names on the register.
He appealed to INEC to address the technical and voter-register issues quickly to prevent disenfranchisement.
At Ibokun, Adewumi Irekandu said the situation remained manageable and under control.
“The two major parties in contest today are the Accord and the APC. We are trying to bring in familiarity so that there won’t be any hiccups along the way. As of now, the situation is still manageable and under control,” he said.
Irekandu said security agents were visible around the polling unit and expressed hope that they would remain there until the end of the exercise.
He also described the turnout as encouraging, saying BVAS worked at his polling unit.
According to him, fears arising from threats before the election did not stop voters from coming out.
However, the Imole Campaign Council of Governor Adeleke, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam, alleged that pressure was being mounted on INEC to change established ward and local government collation centres.
The campaign council urged the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner and other INEC officials to resist any pressure capable of compromising the process.
It also called on security agencies, observers and the media to monitor the collation process closely.
Adeleke condemns arrest of PDP chairman
The governor also condemned the reported arrest of the Osun State PDP Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, after he had voted.
According to a statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the PDP chairman was allegedly arrested at his residence in Ilesa shortly after returning from the polling unit.
The governor described the arrest as an attempt to intimidate political supporters and called for Bisi’s immediate release.
Adeleke further alleged that the arrest was part of a broader plan to prevent his supporters from monitoring results at collation centres.
Meanwhile, security personnel maintained a strong presence across major routes and strategic locations in the state, with soldiers and other security operatives patrolling roads and manning checkpoints.
Voting, however, ended in many polling units across the state at about 2:30 p.m., while it was observed that voters were still on queue casting their votes in some units after 2:30 p.m.
